Softball

SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAMS

7-18 yr olds | Sat, June 16 | 9am – 12pm | @ Zeeland Varsity Softball Fields | $30, Zeeland Resident | $42, Non-Resident
This camp, led by ZE & ZE Varsity Softball head coaches, will focus on improving your skills and softball knowledge while providing a fun experience for developing athletes. There will be many breakout sessions to work on your overall skills. Please bring glove, bat and helmet if you have them. To register, click here or call at (616) 748-3230.

CO-ED TODDLER TEE BALL (4 yr olds)

@ Adams Elementary School | $25, Zeeland Resident | $37, Non-Resident

This is a four-week co-ed program that serves as an introduction to the sport of softball. This program consists of one game per week for four weeks and it requires a parent/guardian to be on the field with your child throughout each game. After registration closes, teams will be formed at random and each team will be assigned a lead-parent who will help get the games started on time, ended on time, and equipment organized. The parents on the field will be the lead for the teaching and coaching of skills (with guidance from the recreation department), along with basic umpiring calls (no umpires are scheduled). To register, click here or call at (616) 748-3230. Registration closes on May 1 for the June session and July 1 for the August session (please note that our Spring/Summer brochure incorrectly listed the registration deadline for this program as March 3).

Tee-Ball is a six-week program that offers one game a week, along with some scheduled practices at the volunteer coach’s’ discretion. After registration, your child will be placed at random on a team. Coaches will contact parents in mid-April after the April 12th coaches meeting to communicate practice and game schedules. To register, click here or call (616) 748-3230. Registration closes on March 3, 2018.

“Coach Pitch” softball is a six-week program that offers one game per week along with some practices at the volunteer coach’s’ discretion. Coaches will be pitching baseball underhand to hitters in games. After registration, your child will be placed at random on a team. Coaches will contact parents in mid-April after the April 12th coaches meeting to communicate practice and game schedules. To register, click here or call (616) 748-3230. Registration closes on March 3, 2018.

“Live-Arm” softball is an eight-week program that offers one game per week along with some practices at the volunteer coach’s’ discretion. The players will be pitching live underhand in games. When needed, coaches will step in to pitch if kids are struggling to throw strikes. After registration, your child will be placed at random on a team. Coaches will contact parents in mid-April after the April 12th coaches meeting to communicate practice and game schedules. To register, click here or call (616) 748-3230. Registration closes March 3, 2018.

Games: Begin in Early May | On Mon, Tue, Wed or Thur @ 6pm (one game per week)

LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL (8-12 yr olds)

$70, Zeeland Resident | $82, Non-Resident

Our Zeeland Little League Softball program is designed to be the next step after 4-7 year olds have completed our Recreation Softball programs. The goals of Little League are to continue to teach the skills and concepts of the game while also emphasizing having fun and building character. Little League is a “live-arm” league in which players pitch and we follow mandated Little League ® guidelines and rules. In order to enroll in Zeeland Little League, your child must either go to a school within the Zeeland Public Schools boundaries, or you must live in Zeeland. The league structure, team selection process, and all other details are below. Registration closed on February 3, 2018. For late registration options, contact Kelli Koss, our youth sports coordinator, at (616)748-3232 or kkoss@zps.org.

*No child whose league age overlaps two divisions is assured of being drafted into the higher division

All 8 yr olds will try-out for AA+ at the “Showcase Day”. If they don’t get selected to a AA+ team, they will be placed on a AA team with all other 8 yr olds

All 9 yr olds will start by trying out for AAA at the “Showcase Day”. If they don’t get selected to a AAA team, they will be placed on a AA or AA+ team with all other 9 yr olds (league placement based on skillset)

10 yr olds start by trying out for AAA, although parents do have the option of having a 10 yr old try out for Majors (10-12 yr olds) if they choose. If not drafted by a Majors team, they will be drafted by either a AAA or AA+ team with all other 10 yr olds (league selection will be based on skillset

11 yr olds that don’t get drafted by a Majors (10-12 yr olds) team will be placed on a AAA team

All 12 yr olds will get drafted to a Majors

Middle School aged girls interested in softball should contact their local 7th-12th grade athletic department about middle school club softball opportunities

Registration Process:

When registering, you register based on your child’s age (which is based on the Little League ® age chart). The league your child participates in will be determined in the team selection process (see below). The Little League Softball Age Chart can be found here.

Team Selection Process – “Showcase Day”:

After registration closes, the next step is forming evenly skilled teams. We do that by evaluating skill levels at “Showcase Day”, along with using ratings given to each player by their coaches from previous seasons (if your child is in their first season playing Little League, the “Showcase Day” will be used as the gauge for his/her skill set). All participants must attend “Showcase Day”. “Showcase Day” involves coaches leading all participants through a series of drills (hitting, fielding, catching, etc.) while coaches evaluate skill sets to ensure we form as evenly skilled teams as possible. After the “Showcase Day”, coaches gather for a draft where all players are drafted on a team. The league each participant gets drafted into AA, AAA, Majors, 50-70, Juniors) will be based on the coaches’ decisions in the draft. Remember, everyone gets drafted and plays! Please arrive 15 minutes before your child’s scheduled time to check in. Please bring a glove, helmet and bat if you have them.

Date: Saturday, March 3

Location: Sports Quest (3325 100th Ave, Zeeland)

12 yr olds: 8am – 9am (Majors)

11 yr olds: 9am – 10am (Majors & AAA)

10 yr olds: 10am – 11am (AAA & AA+)

9 yr olds: 11:30am – 12:30pm (AA & AA+)

8 yr olds: 12:30pm – 1:30pm (AA)

Practice & Game Schedules:

Practices begin after Spring Break, typically in mid-April. After teams are formed in early March, coaches will begin reaching out to parents to communicate practice and game schedules. Regular season games begin in the end of April, and games end in mid-June.

Team Tournaments:

AA, AA+ & AAA: No post-season tournament

Majors: These levels seasons ends with “Team Tournaments”. “Team Tournaments” are a postseason double elimination tournament that involves multiple local communities and typically lasts about one week. Regular season teams will compete against other local Little League teams in District 9. Tournaments begin after the regular season ends in mid-June, and schedules are finalized near the end of the regular season and communicated at that point. These take place in mid-late June.

All-Star Team Information

After the completion of the Zeeland Little League regular season and team tournaments, an All-Star tournament takes place from end of June – mid-July. All-Star teams are selected by appointed All-Star head coaches in early June. All-Star teams are formed after an invitation-only try-out, which usually takes place towards the end of May. Team selections are based on multiple factors (try-out performance, regular season performance, coach recommendations, team needs, etc.). Cost (if selected): $70 (includes a team shirt, hat/visor, belt, socks and tournament fee).

7 yrs old + | February, 2019 (Exact Dates TBD) | @ SportsQuest | $30, Zeeland Resident | $42, Non-Resident
This clinic, led by Zeeland East and Zeeland West Varsity coaches, is designed for girls who want to improve their pitching, hitting, catching and fielding skills. Please bring a ball glove and bat, if you have one. Program size is limited. Registration will open in August, 2018.